Missions Conference Update

As I mentioned in our last post, Autumn is the season for missions conferences in many churches. In October we were in Ohio at South Ridge Baptist Church's annual conference. This month we were privileged to attend Harvest Baptist Church's conference in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Brother Jeremy McClain is the pastor there and God is using him and his family to do a great work for the Kingdom!
Dr. Al Stone, from Canada, was the keynote speaker each night, and although I had never met him before, I found out we knew some of the same people. Small world, the world of missions!
The church had decorated Sunday School rooms with themes according to the missionaries that were in the conference. Canada, Argentina, Norway, and....yes....the nursing homes! As I was given a tour of each one, they were done very well. But when they brought me to the last room, I had to laugh. It was decorated just like a nursing home room. Small bed, some furniture. But the best part was the two "people" sitting in rocking chairs. They had made two "stuffed" people and one of them had a photograph face of the pastor, Bro. McClain! Really funny! Unfortunately, my phone was out in the car and I didn't get a chance to take picture of it.
We were able to show one of the five videos we've made that show the urgent need of reaching the elderly, and all those in nursing homes, with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. This particular video documented the F2 tornado that hit and destroyed part of  the Rolling Fields Eldercare facility in Conneautville, PA last year. It was a sobering reminder of the brevity of life and the need to know Christ as Saviour.
After the video, I preached a brief message I've entitled "Memories". One of the saddest things to see as we develop friendships with those who are residents of the nursing homes, is the fact that much, if not most, of their personal possessions must be left behind when they move into their new
surroundings. A home-full of items collected over the year, must be disposed of. Precious belongings that testify of a life well-lived, must be given away or sold off. Life will now be relegated to a small square room, often shared with another person, where a closet and a chest of drawers, a bed and a chair are the only furnishings. When we go into a room, we see on the walls, pictures. Pictures of family members. Pictures of past events. Pictures of pets. It's all there. But it's only a "memory". Sadly, a life of 80 or 90+ years is reduced to "memories". This is why it's so important to allow residents whom you encounter in your visit to talk. They have so much to say. Let them go on and on! Let them bring up their childhood, their school years, their marriage, their children. It's good for them, and it will help you appreciate the importance of your visit. Memories help reduce the loneliness.
But the greatest memory we want nursing home residents to keep is the day they came to know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. We want to share with them the fact that they can have assurance that an eternity in Heaven awaits them because of what the Saviour has done for them on the cross of Calvary. We want them, as they share with someone else,to recall the greatest memory of how they came into a real relationship with God through His Son.
We are so thankful for faithful churches, like Harvest Baptist Church, that continue to stand with us and make it possible for us to minister in the nursing homes, assisted living centers, and Alzheimer care facilities in northwestern PA and northeastern OH.

Autumn Conferences

The autumn season brings with it cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, shorter days....and missions conferences. Recently we had the privilege of providing an update of our ministry to one of our supporting churches that has been with us since we began C.A.R.E. Ministries back in 2016. Conneaut, Ohio is home of South Ridge Baptist Church, where Dr. Roger Hogle has pastored for over 50 years! I had the opportunity to preach twice during the conference and provide some special music the final night. We have made many friends over the years at South Ridge and it is always great to spend time with them. This church is truly a missions-minded church. Not only do they financially support many missionaries, but a group from the church travels to Haiti on a regular basis, delivering supplies to an orphanage they have supported for years. They don't just talk missions; they practice missions!
One of the blessings of missions conferences is seeing and renewing friendships with missionaries we have come to know over the years. We compare notes, encourage each other, laugh a lot, share some meals, and learn what God has been doing on our respective fields since the last time we got together. But meeting new missionaries, either veterans who have spent their lives serving God in far-reaching places, or young couples who are raising support to go to the field for the first time, is always fascinating.
This year we have a new display to set up at conferences. Instead of the usual tabletop unit that unfolds, we have moved into the 21st century and have one of those pull-up displays that works like the old window shades. It's convenient to carry, sets up in a minute, and looks very professional. We've received a number of compliments on it already.
Time seems to move quickly this time of year and soon we'll be heading down to Greenville, Pennsylvania to Harvest Baptist Church, where Jeremy McClain is the pastor, to share and update of  our work with this dear congregation that has also been on board with us since the beginning of our ministry. I'll share our experience there later on this month.
We want to thank everyone who prays and who gives so that we can take the life-changing message of the gospel to the nursing homes of northeast Ohio and northwest  You are helping us to reach "America's fastest growing, yet most neglected mission field"!

Norm & Priscilla Aabye.

Spring 2019 Ministry Update

Spring, 2019

Greetings to all our friends and supporters!

It looks like we escaped a typical northwest Pennsylvania winter this year. It really wasn't too bad and now we are anticipating Springtime, with its sense of “newness”, as the gray and brown landscape comes to life! Sometimes living in the country has its downsides (dirt roads being one of them!), but knowing any day that the scene out our back window will change from brown to green makes it worthwhile.

In some ways, our ministry to the elderly in the nursing homes of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio is like the change of seasons. 90% of those residing in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities are merely “religious”. All of their lives they have been “going through the motions” of Christianity without actually knowing the Saviour, living a sort of “winter” existence. It is so rewarding to see someone who has lived without the hope of Heaven come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and to see their “season” of life change from one of a barren winter to the rebirth of springtime.

I thought it might be good to share a few “tips” by way of our quarterly letters to help our supporting churches who are conducting their own nursing home ministries. Although the majority of the homes that we minister in are located in Pennsylvania, I have to say that we have seen much fruit for the Kingdom of God in Ohio. The Ashtabula County Nursing & Rehabilitation Center is a place where the people really enjoy hearing the Word of God preached. Many have been saved there, and the staff is really “on board” with what we are doing, which really helps. In fact, we have one nurse who does, what I call, “pre-evangelism”! She is born-again and openly shares her faith with residents. On occasion, she has brought me to someone after our service, whom she has already witnessed to, and who is ready to receive Christ. What a blessing that is!

Having said that, let me say that occasionally I hear from a church that is having trouble getting into a nursing home to minister, or has been told there will be limitations on what they can say or do. A nursing home must provide religious services when desired by the residents. When there is a problem in bringing such services, it is usually due to an Activity Director who, for some reason, has no interest in them, or does not want to be bothered gathering people together for such a service. An initial meeting with the AD, sharing your burden and interest in being a help to her in providing a scheduled activity, may solve the problem. If that doesn't work, speaking with the administrator of the nursing home may be required to get you on the calendar. Unfortunately, much effective nursing home ministry

rises or falls on a cooperative activities staff. We have experienced some difficulties where we have been “pre-empted” on the schedule by some other activity and were not told until we arrived for our service. That can happen occasionally. When it happens repeatedly, it's time to find out why. We have had to step away from several homes over the years who apparently didn't consider our ministry as a vaulable asset to their schedule of activities. I will say, though, that is rare. On the upside, we have never been asked to “adjust” our message or methods over the past 13 years, for which we are very grateful. Part of that, I believe, is due to the fact that we have been blessed with AD's who understand and appreciate why we are there. If your church is thinking about starting a nursing home ministry, and we can be a help in any way, please contact us. We would consider it a privilege to come and do a seminar that will provide some real encouragement to your people to get invovled in reaching the mostly “unreached” segment of society.

I know many ask about Priscilla's eye problem. She continues to require the injections on a 6 week rotation. The retinal surgeon is satisfied that these treatments are working and believe that they can maintain her current vision by the injections. She was recently experiencing some additional pain during the treatments due to the change in the way they prep the eye prior to the injection. The doctor graciously has required his staff to do everything possible in prepping the eye to make sure the treatment is as painless as possible (of course it is impossible to eliminate all pain) by going back to the previous procedure which made her a little more comfortable. It is disheartening to realize that she will have to continue these treatment. There is no other remedy for this problem (believe me, we have researched this!), and her retinal surgeon group is highly recommended. So, she would appreciate your continued prayers. Thankfully, Medicare pays for virtually all of the costs of treatment.

As always, we want to thank you for your prayers and support as we seek to represent you on the mission field of the nursing homes of northwestern Pennsylvania and northeastern Ohio. May God continue to bless you all. If you would like us to come and provide an update of our ministry at your missions conference, please contact us.

Norm & Priscilla Aabye

C.A.R.E. Ministries